Indonesia’s diverse context poses unique ministry challenges for partner seminary

Founded in 1975, Nusantara Bible Seminary (NBS) in Malang, Indonesia, commenced to train church planters and begin a national Indonesian church organization. NBS is now part of a coalition of 15 seminaries in the Malang District and regularly shares faculty and building resources. NBS was one of the first Indonesian seminaries to offer a Master’s program and now offers degrees in Divinity, Theology and Religion.

Because it has so many islands and a long history, the interdenominational seminary says there are literally hundreds of individual cultures within Indonesia, making it a unique context for ministry. NBS says they have “everything from primitive jungle tribes to high-tech computer workplaces in their cities.” Curriculum is focused around contextual realities. For example, a practical course on occultism was added because of its commonality in Indonesia. NBS also recently opened a new satellite program on Intercultural Studies to train church planters and evangelists. Programs to better reach youth in the community include soccer and volleyball games and Bible studies.

In addition to opening a free medical clinic that ministers to 50-70 people weekly, the seminary offers evening layman courses, online courses and distance education through the establishment of extension centers around the country. NBS also partnered with OMS International to offer a one to two month cross-cultural missions training program for Western students called Asia Missions Training Center. Participants spend the next month ministering in a specific country in Asia.

OC scholarship student Daini currently serves in various ministry opportunities, especially a medical ministry with a husband and wife doctor team. Indonesia’s natural disasters have been a particular area of ministry for the past few years. “I am thankful for the many spiritual blessings God taught me through my classes,” he says. “Lectures [on Christian Leadership and Church Planting, for example] are very important for my future ministry because they prepare me for the many challenges in ministry.”

Click here to read about NBS’ extensive disaster relief efforts in 2005.